Senate Bill No. 457, introduced by Senator Reese, seeks to strengthen the regulation of criminal background checks within Louisiana's gaming industry. The bill amends and reenacts several statutes, including R.S. 15:587(C), R.S. 27:15(B)(1), and R.S. 47:9065(B), while also enacting new provisions such as R.S. 4:147.3, R.S. 4:705.1, R.S. 27:20.1, and R.S. 47:9065(C) and (D). It grants the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Louisiana Office of Charitable Gaming the authority to obtain state and national criminal history records from the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information and the FBI. The bill emphasizes public safety by regulating the licensing of individuals involved in gaming activities and requires applicants to submit fingerprints for background checks.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and other gaming agencies, mandating that applicants for licenses or permits must provide fingerprints and identifying information for background checks, with associated costs to be borne by the applicants. It ensures that the criminal history information obtained will be confidential and used solely for evaluating eligibility for licensure or employment. The legislation also allows for the sharing of criminal history results with the Louisiana Lottery Corporation and includes provisions for conducting background checks on potential vendors and employees. The effective date for these changes is set for August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB339 Original: 15:587(C), 27:15(B)(1), 47:9065(B)
SB339 Engrossed: 15:587(C), 27:15(B)(1), 47:9065(B)